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Washington-area agencies closed on Monday

Metro system also closed as Hurricane Sandy bears down on city.

Also Sunday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced that the region's on Monday "in light of updated forecast information from the National Weather Service projecting higher wind speeds" in the area.

Washington-area federal agencies will be closed Monday in anticipation of severe effects of Hurricane Sandy, the Office of Personnel Management announced Sunday evening. 

Here's the text of the agency's announcement:

Non-emergency employees (including employees on pre-approved paid leave) will be granted excused absence (administrative leave) for the number of hours they were scheduled to work unless they are:

  • required to telework,
  • on official travel outside of the Washington, D.C., area,
  • on leave without pay, or
  • on an alternative work schedule (AWS) day off.
  • Telework-ready employees who are scheduled to perform telework on the day of the announcement or who are required to perform unscheduled telework on a day when federal offices are closed to the public must telework the entire workday or request leave, or a combination of both, in accordance with their agencies' policies and procedures, subject to any applicable collective bargaining requirements.

Emergency employees are expected to report to their worksites unless otherwise directed by their agencies.

Federal News Radio reported that federal buildings taking direction from the New York City Federal Executive Board also would be closed Monday.

rail and bus system would be closed